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People in distress have threatened to jump off the car park on at least four occasions in the last three years, according to one nearby trader.

Flowers in Bull Lane

And last year Gloucester City Council trialled a night time closure of the car park as it had become a magnet for rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour - before this idea was scrapped following protests from local businesses.

John Martin, who owns the So Thai restaurant in Longsmith Street, said it's vital for nearby businesses that the car park stays open through the night.

He said: "Quite often people have stood there threatening to jump - it's a regular occurance.

"If they put cameras in the car park they know straight away if there's someone in there.

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"The police station has closed on Longsmith Street - you imagine how many police used to walk up the road. Now there's no police walking past the carpark because the station has closed. It's a bit more vulnerable to people hanging around."

Police have made enquiries about the 19-year-old woman's death on behalf of the coroner.

Councillor Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council (C, Longlevens), said safety at Longsmith Street car park is being regularly reviewed.

He said: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of the person involved. Whatever has happened it's clearly very tragic.

"It's difficult to put measures in place that will prevent tragedies of this kind. If people are determined to do something like this they will always find a way.

"We have looked at whether it is possible to retrofit something to make it more difficult. But it's not straightforward to do that.

"It's absolutely still a safe carpark. It's difficult to account for tragic incidents like this."

The city council said it has no plans to close the car park overnight.